George Winn has a passion and belief in the families system. He believes that our children are our future. We must provide innovative and quality services to our children and families. Winn says, “It is his mission and drive to provide quality services to our most vulnerable children and families. It is our duty and responsibility to provide nurturance and guidance for our children. They not only need us but deserve to have adults who will provide unconditional care, love, support and guidance to help them shape their own lives”. The Children’s Center’s mission and values closely aligned with my personal values that make this a wonderful opportunity for me to join their outstanding organization.

George Winn, currently a resident of Southfield, Michigan is a native Detroiter. Winn is a product of the Detroit’s public school system and graduated from Cody High School where he was an outstanding scholar – athlete. He received an athletic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin and later transferred to St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake Michigan were in 1985 he received his Bachelor of Science degree. Winn later earned his Master’s of Social Work degree from Wayne State University in 1996.

Winn’s professional career began in 1985 as a residential direct care worker at Metro Youth Inc. (later known as Diversified Youth Services). It was there that the late Rolando Shorey, Executive Director and Alice Thompson (currently President of Black Family Development Inc.) notices the potential and passion in Winn to help vulnerable children and families and promoted Winn to the manager of their largest residential facility. Winn’s career of over twenty-one years of experience in the field of child welfare and mental health has allowed him to gain knowledge and wisdom in these areas. He has been employed with Spectrum Human Services and Evergreen Children Services. He believes both of these organizations contributed additional managerial, clinical, guidance, support and training.

In 1998, Winn joined Lutheran Social Services of Michigan as the Director of their Child and Family Services – metro area program, their largest foster care program in their organization. Winn was responsible for the development of programs and guiding the foster care program through some systems reform efforts. Under Winn’s direction, the program increased the client population in foster care and clinical services and piloted the first private agency contract on family to family in Michigan. The program increased the number of licensed foster homes and independent living providers. Winn was successful in adding preservation services and a mentor/advocate program to help families on the east side of Detroit. The program regained a regular state operating license and continued Council of Accreditation licensure. Winn was successful in reducing length of stay for children entering foster care and increasing siblings being placed together and family reunification.

Winn is regarded highly by his peers in the field and they all speak of his strong work ethics and his passion to provide quality services to children and families. He is viewed as an outstanding administrator and strong advocate for children and families. Winn has advocated for the rights of children and families to legislators in Lansing and Washington D.C.

Winn has served on a variety of local and state task forces such as The Mayor’s Task Force on Abuse/Neglect, Family to Family Self Evaluation Committee, state wide task force on domestic violence, Schools of the 21st Century, Family Preservation Services Task Force and levels of care regarding abuse/neglect. Winn also has participated in a focus group to address racial disparity of children in our foster care system. Winn has also accompanied Department of Human Service staff from Michigan to view systems reform efforts in other states involving family to family, improving juvenile justice services and blended funding opportunities. Winn has collaborated with Department of Human Services, Detroit Wayne County Mental Health Association and The Federation of Children Services on developing creative programming for their respective consumers.

Currently, Winn services as the Chief Clinical Operating Officer and member of the agency’s Leadership Team. Winn has over sight of all of the agency’s programs. He will guide the organizations’ program and development through systems reform in Child Welfare and Mental Health. Winn will focus on improving our internal systems in order to provide the best and most efficient service of care to our clients. Winn will be exploring best practice techniques and creative innovative programming for the consumers. The Children's Center will utilize evidence-based practices; person centered planning as well as offering the self determination process to all of our clients. Winn believes that we must treat all people with dignity and respect. We must be non-judgmental and strength based in our service delivery. Winn will assist The Children's Center to continue the strong reputation of providing quality services in Michigan and on a National level. Winn believes that The Children's Center is rich in resources of services that will help children and families shape their own futures.

When George Winn is not at The Children's Center, he is active being a mentor to his three boys and a loving husband to his wife. Winn is a member of Word of Faith Christian Center. Winn is a little league basketball coach for the Michigan Thunder. Along with Michigan Thunders’ President, Kevin Poston, Winn believes in making sure that we build quality in the young men’s lives and not only teach basketball skills but real-life lessons. It is the mission of Thunder to develop strong character in the lives of our youth through socialization activities like basketball. Winn also provides guidance and nurturance to youth in his neighborhood as he views that we must help all children, not just our own.